As the war on Gaza reaches its 75th day, at least 19,667 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 7. The death toll from Hamas’s attack on Israel stands at nearly 1,140.
The United Nations' attempt to pass a draft resolution urging a ceasefire in Gaza faced last-minute delays due to negotiations over the wording. These negotiations, aimed at avoiding a potential US veto, have pushed the vote to Wednesday.
Addressing the media in Beirut on Monday, Hamas official Osama Hamdan expressed the group's openness to any initiative seeking a ceasefire. However, he added that there would be "no negotiations on a hostage swap deal until the Zionist [Israeli] aggression completely stops".
The initial draft of the Security Council resolution, proposed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), called for an "urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities" to facilitate "safe and unhindered humanitarian access". While diplomats initially believed they were close to an agreement, with 99% progress reported, the final discussions proved complex, according to the UAE.
The US, along with Israel, opposes a ceasefire because they say it would benefit Hamas. Washington vetoed a previous Security Council resolution demanding one.
The UK abstained, but every other member supported it.
Here are the latest 10 updates:
1. Israeli Strike in Rafah kills 27
A pre-dawn Israeli strike on Tuesday levelled a home in Rafah, resulting in the tragic death of 27 people, including a 17-day-old baby, as reported by the Associated Press news agency.
2. Targeted Killings of Journalists
Jody Ginsberg, the president of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), told National Public Radio (NPR) that the apparent "targeted" killings of journalists in Gaza need to be investigated. The CPJ has recorded the deaths of at least 68 journalists in the region since October 7, while Gaza's media office puts the toll at 97.
3. UNICEF's Warning on Children's Health
Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of the UN Children’s Agency, warned on Wednesday that without access to safe water, many more children in Gaza are at risk of dying in the coming days. Cases of diarrhoea among children under five have already exceeded 20 times the monthly average.
4. Israel wants a Temporary Truce
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced on Tuesday to a gathering of ambassadors that Israel is willing to agree to a new temporary truce with Hamas. This proposal aims to secure the release of more captives held in Gaza.
5. Telecommunications Blackout in Gaza
Gaza is currently experiencing its sixth consecutive day of a telecommunications blackout. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) reported on Tuesday that, apart from a partial restoration in southern Gaza on Monday, the region remains largely disconnected.
6. Gaza's Hunger Crisis
Half of Gaza's population is experiencing extreme or severe hunger, with 90% regularly going without food for an entire day, according to the World Food Programme’s (WFP) regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.
7. Israeli Raids in West Bank
Israel conducted raids in at least six areas across the occupied West Bank overnight. In the town of Tammun, Israeli forces wounded a 16-year-old in live fire and bulldozed two homes, as reported by the Palestinian Red Crescent and Wafa news agency. West Bank is not ruled by Hamas.
8. Malaysian Ban on Israeli Shipping Company
On Tuesday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim banned the Israeli ZIM shipping company and declared that any ship en route to Israel is prohibited from loading cargo at Malaysian ports. This action is in response to Israel's actions against Palestinians in Gaza.
9. US Response to Red Sea Attacks
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby emphasised at a press briefing on Tuesday that "attacks on ships in the Red Sea have to stop".
The United States has announced the establishment of a new multinational maritime security force in response to attacks on ships by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen.
10. Israeli Control of Jabalia Refugee Camp
Israel has declared that it has taken control of the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli army claims to have "dismantled" the Hamas force in the area.
Jabalia stands as the largest among the eight refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, situated to the north of Gaza City near a village sharing its name. Established after the 1948 War, the camp became home to refugees, primarily those who fled villages in southern Palestine.
